SaudiSphere

Buthaina Al-Nasir on "Brainwashing"

Where did the "Saudi Liberals Network" go?? الشبكة الليبرالية السعودية

It seems that the Saudi Liberals Network, a popular Saudi web forum which openly discusses issues of concern to Saudi citizens, has disappeared from the face of the internet. This doesn't come as a surprise since the predecessors of the network, Tuwaa and Dar Al-Nadwa, were also shut down by the government. But why now? I am thinking that, among other things, it might be related to the latest reform petition which was endorsed and supported by the network. But I have no doubt that the Saudi reformers will start a new forum just as they have done before. Listen to this (you know who you are): You can shut a forum or two, arbitrarily detain a bunch of well respected individuals within the society, ban reformists from traveling, but you can never bring an end to a resilient spirit.

 

U.S. Supreme Court & Abortion

Bob Englehart

Faceless Saudi Women

So what happens when a Saudi woman adds her face to facebook? You would think it is a normal thing to do. Think twice & then go ahead and read Aysha Alkusayer, a new and promising Saudi blogger who is blogging from Portland (one of my favorite US cities), account on this huge deal in a culture that forbids a woman's face and considers it a shame.

Saudi Blogs

Check out Ahmed’s neat selection of the 10 Must Read Saudi Blogs.

I would like to thank Ahmed for including my blog in his list (where he rightly describe it as angry) and for introducing me and other readers to Saudi blogs of note.

Also, Usama Hussain's article about Saudi blogs is out: A new voice in conservative Arabia. The article sheds light on the diversity Saudi bloggers opinions and their struggle to be heard in a country where free speech is limited and controlled by state owned media.

Amjad Ramsi

Tomorrow: Constitutional Speech by King Abdullah

The local English daily Arabnews is reporting that King Abdullah will be addressing the Saudi Shura Council tomorrow. John Burgess brings the attention to recent speculations of a major policy announcement: "Over the past couple of months, the rumor mill has been running at full speed about the pending announcement of major changes in Saudi law and governance."

RIYADH, 13 April 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will deliver a speech at the Shoura Council tomorrow in which he is expected to mention the Kingdom’s internal and external strategies for the coming year.

The President of the Shoura Council Sheikh Saleh Bin-Humaid described the speech to be “constitutional.” He added that it in addition to it reflecting the Kingdom’s strategies, it would also touch on new developments in the Kingdom over the past year.

Just 11 days ago, members of the constitutional reform movement in Saudi Arabia(دعاة الإصلاح المدني و الدستوري) sent the king their latest petition which outlines their reform vision and detailed proposals, معالم في طريق الملكية الدستورية/ دولة الدستور الإسلامي/ دولة العدل والشور (Arabic). Some of this petition's framers and signatories were arbitrarily arrested in February based on mostly contested and fabricated accusations. King Abdullah has on certain occasions met with some of the reformists and promised them change. So let's wait and see.

 

Update:

Text of King Abdullah’s speech (Arabic)

John Burgess’s follow up post about the speech

Stop lying for a change, will ya?

When I started reading Rasheed Abou-Alsamh’s new article, Saudis cling to outlet for free expression, I initially felt that he is writing about some godforsaken Latin country ruled by a military dictatorship and the secret police that I read about long time ago in a history book, then, I felt like breaking something, anything: 

For 14 years she has been gathering with some 150 other female Saudi academics for monthly diwaniyas, or salons. At the home of one of the group's members in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, they talked about the issues of the day: the plight of Saudi women, elections, civil society, and domestic violence.            

But now the professor worries that the government is beginning to stifle her salon and others, further backing away from making  substantial reforms.      

These discussion groups, which have been growing in number in recent years, are among the only outlets for collective expression  in a country where public gatherings and political parties are banned.    

She says she received a troubling call from a government official a few weeks ago asking her to register the group with the Ministry of Interior or face police action against her group. "The official kept calling me, but I said I would not believe what he was saying unless he could send me something in writing," recalls the academic, who asked for anonymity for fear of retribution.

"My husband was finally called in to have a meeting with a Riyadh Governorate official who told him that a new law was going into effect that would force all discussion groups in private homes who have guest speakers to be registered with the Ministry of Interior," she says.

Not only will these discussion groups apparently have to be registered with the government, but each may have to apply for  permission from the appropriate ministry depending on the topic being discussed, according to this academic. (more)

This type of repression, I assume, would never happen in a country which claims that its opening up for reform and citizen participation in policy making. No matter how you look at it, spying on and controlling what people do in their own homes is simply an infringement on the dignity and basic rights of citizens. Now this is no longer just an issue of freedom of expression alone, but also the internationally recognized right of free assembly and living freely without awaiting the approval of a patriarchal government that believes it owns its people from head to toe. So, here it is, I am fed up with this game of cards the government is playing with its so-called reform agenda. Once in every blue moon they throw a card which outlines actions permitted in this game, 10 days later they lay down 10 cards which lists all the forbidden actions that everyone should abstain from and would lead them to trouble (from harassing bloggers to haphazardly shutting down internet forums and canceling cultural events and the list goes on). So, dear government, for the sake of credibility, let's lay down the rules clearly once and for all because as habitual liars you have lost all respect.

Segregation will prevail

Everyone who read this ground-breaking-news was so delighted:

       "€œSegregation of men and women is not correct"

- Statement by Prince Nayef, interior minister in the Fourth Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh

 
But, what does this statement really mean? Are we going to wake up tomorrow and find our 8th graders, boys and girls, co-existing in one classroom? Does it mean that music and dvd stores are going to take down that degrading board which hangs on its entrance and reads: "no women are allowed"?

Are you kidding me, coming from this source, this statement means nothing (read Ahmed's post which clarifies the story). It actually shows how eager Arabnews is for reporting on some promise of change, even if it is just a mirage. Just to be realistic: Segregation is alive and well in so many parts of the country so don't get your hopes up.

 

Abdellah Derkaoui

What do you think?

Stars, arrows, pyramids, octagons, crosses, numbers, etc. are shapes that naturally or selectively occur all around us. Does this sound to you as a mere conspiracy?

Saudi Wahhabi Shaikh: Using Women for Pleasure is Permitted

Although I should know better, I am still baffled when I read about Fatwas by so-called Salafi-Wahhabi shaiks permitting the use and abuse of women for men's pleasure (reinforcing the prevalent concept of women as disposable objects) . Al-Watan newspaper is reporting a session by a Shikh called Al-Mutlak, who is a member of the committee of senior scholars in Saudi Arabia, where he addressed Saudi students who are about to leave for school abroad and gave them a bunch of religious advice (Arabic). So, among other things, this guy sanctioned marriage with the intention of divorce. And it doesn't stop here, according to Al-Mutlak, these men don't have to inform the women they choose for their sexual pleasures of this intention.

What does that mean?

Simple: Young Saudi men (who obviously have uncontrollable needs) can get married to women who they meet abroad and stay with them until they are done with school and after that, all they have to do is say the magic words: You are divorced.

How convenient.

This, mind you, is coming from a Sunni Salafi scholar, who, in his own tradition, considers Zawaj Al-Mutaa (Temporary marriage allowed in Shiitism) to be a sign of all that is evil (zina -extramarital sex) and use this difference between the two sects as a way to tarnish Shiites.

So, Shikh whatever your name is, what about me, a woman studying in the US, am I allowed to get married with the intention of divorce? Or is this newly acquired right reserved only for men as everything else in your customs?

[Via the Saudi Liberal Network]

caption?

Alen Lauzan Falcon, Chile

 

Good Job

The Saudi government is not keeping up with the development and maintenance of viable living conditions in big cities, that is well known to say the least. To give you an example of genius planning, the Jeddah municipality is planning to move the livestock market next to a sewage dump. So, it doesn't come as a surprise to read news like this.

 

Saudi writer Zaynab Hifni on women, sex and taboos

And you don’t want to miss this!

Kareem Amer, how dare you insult the president and Islam?

Egyptian blogger Abdel Kareem Suleiman (pseudo name: Kareem Amer) was sentenced yesterday for four years in prison for the crime of insulting the president and inciting hatred of Islam.

After such a sentence, Arabs still wonder why they are at the bottom on the humanity list? I am telling you people, we are nothing more than a property of the state and the religious institutions, put your head down, walk straight and stay silent or you will face the consequences. And for people such as Kareem, he will remain a symbol of courage in the face of intimidation and despotism. This is not the end of the story for him for sure.

Abdellah Derkaoui

My favoriate new word

Kleptocracy (root: Klepto+cracy = rule by theives) is a government that is primarily designed to sustain the personal wealth and political power of government officials and their cronies.

 

Do Saudis have the right to request reforms?

Other than being hand picked by the government for some official posts and the powerless shura council, Saudis have no venues for political participation. However, since the beginning of the 1990s Saudi citizens started petitioning the government for reforms, transparency and the establishment of independent civil society institutions. A new petition circulating on the Internet is echoing the events of 2004 when signatories of an earlier petition were rounded up from their work places and houses and imprisoned for the sole purpose of asking for their legitimate rights. The February Petition, as it is called by some, was published few days after the government arrested 10 reformers, some of them signed the petition before they were sacked by the secret police.

This, I guess, answers the question proposed by this post, do Saudis have right to ask for rights and freedoms? well, the answer should be yes, any citizen must be allowed to activly participate in the development of her/his country, but in the grim reality of Saudi Arabian authoritarianism the answer is: No

+ The text of Constitutional Reform Petition معالم في طريق الملكية الدستورية (Arabic)
(I don't think that any English version exists yet, if so please let me know and I will post it here)

History of Conquest

Also check History of Religion [Via Sandmonkey]

Better than Cherry Garcia?

Ben & Jerry introduced a new ice cream flavor full of truthiness:

The flavor, Stephen Colbert’s AmeriCone Dream is a decadent melting pot of vanilla ice cream with fudge-covered waffle cone pieces and a caramel swirl. It’s the sweet taste of liberty in your mouth.

I don't care if this sounds shallow but this, so far, is the best news of 2007!

A-y-r-a-q-i-s herding goats?!

I just want to know how did somebody as ignorant as this guy got elected?  I am going to excuse him though since he was exhibiting culture sensitivity and didn't mention milking chicken, riding giant desert lizards, drinking cactus juice, and living in shacks made of camel skin and goat gut. Genius, I must say!  (P.S. I knew that nothing good was going to come out of his mouth when he started saying: A---y---r---a---q)

Australian Muslims say No to Saudi Money

I don’t know when, and if, Saudi wahhabis will realize that most of the Muslims beyond the borders of the holy kingdom (and even many within) look down upon their teachings and consider them to be radicals who don’t represent their religion. I have heard many stories here in the US about Saudi funded Imams who preach the very much despised version of Islam and the revolt against them from other Muslims. Here is a story from Australia about breaking the hegemony of wahhabi teaching's in some mosques:

CANBERRA'S peak Islamic body has appointed a new imam for the capital amid claims the Saudi Arabian Government is dividing the local Muslim community through controversial payments to religious leaders… more. [Via Saudi Liberal Network-Arabic]

Human Rights Watch Picks Up the Case of Arrested Activists

هيومان رايتس ووتش
على السعودية الإفراج عن دعاة الإصلاح المُحتجزين

المباحث السعودية تعتقل سبعة إصلاحيين بارزين في تكرارً لأحداث 2004 

What Saudi Arabia and Iran Have in Common

We do share important values after all: Both Saudi and Iran are notorious for locking up reform and human rights activists within the vicinities of their respective countries. It is a simple strategy that works well for both: If you are a reformist then you better be willing to give up your right to leave the country. Come on now, this is a big sign from God almighty that both Saudi and Iranian governments should be friends instead. Don't you agree?

 

What is more important: Iraq or Anna Nicole Smith?

Is this even a legitimate question?! Of course Anna Nicole!

Rehab Nation

Rob Rogers

Something is Terribly Wrong with this Story

February 3, 2007

The official Saudi News Agency (aka mouth piece of prince nayef) reported that the government, in its efforts to crackdown on terrorists, arrested 10 men (9 Saudis and one foreigner) in Jeddah and Madinah for allegedly funding “suspicious bodies” and “luring Saudi citizens.” 

February 4, 2007

The lawyer of the 10 detainees, Bassim Alem, said that they have no link to terrorism and that they are reform activists who were recently warned by the Interior Minister to halt their activities and petitions. Alem named five of the detainees: Sulaiman Rushoudi, Essam Basrawy, Abdel-Rahman al-Shimary, Abdelaziz al-Khuraijy and Mousa al-Qarny.

February 5, 2007

BBC is reporting that the Saudi government is not issuing any information about the identities of the suspects. BBC’s Middle East analyst is saying that some Saudis suspect the terrorism charges are a pretext and that they were arrested for their political beliefs.

 

Just to put things in to context, one of the alleged terrorist funders, lawyer and human rights activist, Essam Basrawy was one of the defenders of Ali Al Domaini and other reformers who were sentenced for 9 years in prison for engaging in reform activities and signing a petition calling for the constitutional monarchy back in 2004. Al Domaini was later released by King Abdullah after his succession. This should give us an idea about the type of people who are accused of terrorist activities. 

Update, February 7: While the Saudi Media is shamefully silent (as usual), more Saudi bloggers are questioning the motives behind these arrests. 

داخل ساعة رملية: أنا مواطن غير محترم

عشرة .. يمولون الإرهاب..

التهمة المطبوخه و إعلامنا البائس

Saudi Jeans

We need to know the facts involved in this case, if those individuals are funding terrorism then proof should be established. Arbitrary detention, damaging the reputations of well known activists and the misuse of power can no longer be tolerated. Please write and share.

I came here for the snow!

I am really disappointed. It is freezing here in New York (- 13 C), yet there is not one inch of snow!

The Iraqi Disaster Keeps on Unfolding

According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),  2 million Iraqis have fled Iraq and now are refugees in  Jordan, Syria and Lebanon amounting to " the Middle East's largest refugee crisis since the Palestinian exodus  in 1948." Now, Jordan along with the rest of the receiving countries are putting tighter controls and refusing to take more refugees because of the fear from sectarian violence spilling into their own backyards, the economic burdens and, of course, because “the Iraq story has to be a success story.” I have a question about the role  and level of commitment of Gulf Countries (i.e. Saudi, Kuwait, UAE, etc.). Is any one of these big-mouthed big-hearted countries interested in providing shelter to fleeing Iraqi families?

Juhaiman 2.0

Officials in Saudi caught a man attempting to smuggle weapons into the Grand Mosque in Mecca (and for an extra dramatization, he also wore a fake suicide belt). Although the identity of this person has not been revealed yet, this incident is definitely sounding like a Juhaiman type of an attempt to take over the grand mosque and cause bloodshed and great harm. Who is behind this? And seriously, have these Islamists/Wahhabi/Salafi/Jihadi groups (or whatever you want to call them) completely lost their minds?

Carlin's Ten Commandments

South Dakota's Talibanism

Speaking for itself:

In addition to preventing the death of a woman, an abortion may be obtained in cases of rape or incest, but the victim must report the rape to the police within 50 days, the physician must obtain a copy of the report record, and the victim must provide either the name and last known address or a description of the alleged rapist to law enforcement. Furthermore, the physician would be required to take blood samples from the woman and the fetus to be submitted to law enforcement.

 

Are We that *&%! Up?

I apologize for not posting for the last couple of weeks. I have been overwhelmed by some matters that I need to take care of. In addition to stressing out about my own personal and school related issues, the news that has been flying around lately about Saudi Arabia’s possible involvement in Iraq are quite disturbing (got to make use of acquired weapons right?). The so-called increasing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia are self-inflicted and made possible through an unimaginable amount of greed and sick desire for territorial, economic and religious expansion from both sides. In addition, the dosage of Sunni is superior to Shiite and Shiite is superior to Sunni poison, abundantly injected into the minds of our populations, is at an all time high. How did we reach this level? What is it that we can do to stop this insanity? Or is it even possible?

+ Happy New Year. It is 1428!

Saudi Arabia in 2006

I don’t think it is too late for this: I am collecting news articles and reports about Saudi Arabia during the year 2006 for a post (or a series of posts) which summarizes some of the important happenings in Saudi Arabia in 2006. So if you think that there is a certain incident, person, or information which deserves to be on this list, please email it to me or post it in the comment section.

Some deserve to be ruled by a dictator…

No this is not a joke.

After reading many posts which proclaim that Saddam was a martyr, a hero, a lion, and a symbol of courage, I am inclined to say that such persons deserve to be treated as a property and stripped out of their dignity because they don’t have one to begin with.

And about the execution itself, Sandmonkey hit the nail right on the head!

Meanwhile, a key observation is made…

Matt Davies

Looking Forward in 2007

[Via Lipstick Wahhabi]

Message from the Desert

An Englishman in Saudi Arabia has a simple message which rings so true: we are just the same

Happy Holidays

R.J. Matson

+ Waiting On The World To Change